Xuanming spoke in a low voice, a chill radiating from her body that made her seem utterly aloof.
Ren's eyes gleamed as he pondered her words. "Well, well... I never imagined that was what happened in the battle back then! I once learned from Haotian that Hongjun appeared composed while facing the Capital Heaven Divine Fiend Formation, but after returning to the Purple Cloud Palace, he coughed up blood and suffered grievous injuries. I had no idea he'd come so close to being killed! If Dijiang had steeled himself, abandoned Buzhou Mountain, and struck that final blow, Hongjun might not be around today!"
The Destruction Sword Venerable shook his head. "I'm stunned too. Who knew so much was hidden behind that battle? But killing Hongjun wouldn't have been so simple. After he merged with the Dao, he became like Heavenly Dao itself. You might kill Hongjun, but you couldn't kill Heavenly Dao. If Heavenly Dao collapsed, the Primordial World would suffer grievously as well. That blow might have brought Hongjun to the brink of death, but actually killing him seems unlikely."
Ren nodded. "That's possible. After all, information has recently surfaced about Luo Hou, who lost back then, apparently pointing to some plan for his resurrection. Even if Hongjun had been killed, he would have sought a way back too. Some Great Powers are just too hard to kill for good. They might revive someday even after being slain. Some go even further, sacrificing the present for a plan set far in the future!"
Xuanming nodded gravely. "True. Think how powerful Luo Hou was. The entire Primordial World joined forces against him alone! Yet his Demon Cult slaughtered the three clans' experts and killed countless Great Powers. In that battle, Luo Hou nearly wiped out every powerful figure in the